A trusted carer who lives with you.
Continuity, companionship, and safety without the upheaval of moving into residential care. A live-in caregiver moves into your home for a placement, typically a week or two at a time, providing daytime support and overnight peace of mind. Live-in placements are billed as a weekly rate, not by the hour.
What’s included
- Round-the-clock support, 7+ days at a time
- One-to-one attention from a single caregiver
- Personal care, mobility, and medication reminders
- Meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands
- Companionship and routine maintenance
- Sleeping nights or waking nights, declared upfront
- Suitable for elderly, post-operative, and special-needs care
- Couples can share a single live-in caregiver
- Ongoing rotation: paired caregivers swap every week or two
- Caregivers receive their own private room and daily breaks
Caregiver credentials we look for
Caregiver credentials are self-declared at sign-up and verified against background-check vendor data. Specific verification varies by jurisdiction.
Frequently asked
How are live-in carers paid?+
Live-in placements are billed as a weekly rate set by the caregiver, not by the hour. Indicative ranges are £700–£900/week in the UK and $1,000–$1,400/week in the US, depending on complexity of care and whether nights are sleeping or waking. SpecialCarer's 30% service fee is added on top.
How long does a live-in caregiver stay?+
Typically a 7- to 14-day rotation, with a paired caregiver taking over so the first can rest. We help arrange paired caregivers for ongoing live-in care, or single placements for a one-off block (e.g. while a family carer takes a holiday).
What does the caregiver need from us?+
Their own private bedroom (a sofa-bed isn't enough for sustained live-in work), reasonable food, and 2 hours of break each day. UK regulations require an 8-hour uninterrupted overnight rest unless you specifically book a 'waking nights' caregiver.
Can a live-in caregiver give medication?+
Caregivers can prompt and remind, and administer pre-prepared medication (e.g. dosette boxes) where they have the appropriate training. They do not perform clinical procedures, injections, or controlled-drug administration unless they are a registered nurse engaged for that purpose.
What if it isn't working out?+
You can request a swap to a different caregiver at any time, with 48 hours' notice. We'll help arrange a replacement and pro-rate the weekly rate.
Can the same person also do visiting work?+
Yes — many caregivers offer both. On their profile they'll show a weekly rate for live-in placements and an hourly rate for visits. You can book whichever format suits you.